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What is a facial plastic surgeon?

(Facial Plastic Surgeons vs General Plastic Surgeons)

All practicing physicians have the same basic training: a four year undergraduate degree (BS or BA), four years of medical school (MD), and at least one year of residency (sometimes called internship). Then it changes. In the following years either a medical or surgical path is taken. Thus, dermatologists are not considered surgeons since their medical residency does not include surgical training in invasive procedures.
     Two closely aligned surgical specialties are facial plastic surgery and general plastic surgery. Both types of surgeons complete the same undergraduate and medical school degrees, followed by a general surgery internship. General surgery involves the most common of surgical procedures: hernia repairs, appendectomies, gallbladder removals, etc. The internship serves to acquaint the young physician with the basics of surgical technique, but neither the facial plastic nor general plastic surgeon will continue perform those surgeries once in practice.
     The focus of the two surgical residencies are different:
Facial Plastic Surgeon
1-2 years of general surgery (internship)
4 additional years of specialty training in head and neck surgery and facial plastic surgery
Plastic Surgeon
3-5 years general surgery (internship/residency)
2 years of plastic surgery
   For instance, Dr. Simoni's final four years of training focused exclusively on the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the face, head, and neck structures. This in-depth concentration provides the facial plastic surgeon with a strong background in the exact area you want to have your surgery. And, in fact, these surgeons perform the majority of elective facial plastic surgery procedures in the United States.
    By way of contrast, a plastic surgeon completes three to five years of general surgery before pursuing only two years of specialty training. The two year plastic surgery residency covers a wide range of diverse areas all over the body. The lion's share of cosmetic body liposuction, breast augmentation or reduction, and tummy tucks (abdominoplasties) are performed by this kind of surgeon. More...